Orchard fest is music to our ears | Bay of Plenty Entertainment | Events, Movies and TV Guide for Bay of Plenty

You are invited out to the orchard again for the 2nd annual Tauranga/Katikati Acoustic Music Festival on February 25.

From 10am-9pm at 156 Word Rd, experience a full-on 11 hours of folk/acoustic music. Featuring Original and Traditional tunes, Celtic, alt country, ballads, a bit of blues, a bit of opera and classical violin and folk rock guaranteed to have you dancing in the fig trees.

Although called acoustic music because all the instruments can be played acoustically, the music is amplified on stage with state of the art sound equipment.

The festival also features workshops from some of the artists, which may include harmony singing and slide guitar.

The organisers are thrilled to be presenting two major international acts - supported by very talented local musicians from Waihi, Katikati and Tauranga,

Emily Smith is one of the leading singers of the contemporary Scottish folk scene. Her powerful, clear vocals have gained her award winning, worldwide recognition. Named "Scots Singer of the Year" by public vote at the Scots Trad Music Awards.

As a songwriter Emily has been likened to "a Scottish Joni Mitchell", but as a passionate collector she is equally adept at presenting fresh and evocative interpretations of traditional songs.

New Zealand-born multi-instrumentalist Jamie McLennan has grown up immersed in NZ's folk scene and played in several bands before making the move to Scotland where he became a sought after player on the Glasgow music scene playing ceilidhs and forming the award winning four piece Quarter Mile.

Jamie joined Emily's band initially on fiddle and has been an integral part of her sound ever since, helping to arrange and produce Emily's four albums and has now settled into the role of lead guitarist in her band.

Emily was the first winner from Scotland when her song Edward of Morton won the Folk Category of the USA Songwriting Competition in 2005. Another of her songs, Always a Smile, about the life of her Polish grandmother, was short listed in the final 10.

Emily and Jamie have toured all over the world delighting audiences with their imaginative mix of traditional and original songs and instrumentals.

A folk, roots and world music band formed in 2010, Sanders Alley Khan play beautifully mad acoustic music. A live-wire trio that blends a fine array of musical styles and instruments with superb three-way vocal harmonies.

Jon Sanders, Dave Alley and Dave Khan draw from their vastly different backgrounds blending Jon Sanders' vast Celtic and jazz influence with Dave Alley's bluesy roots and Dave Khan's American folk and blues, all delivered with great energy, sublime musicianship and a few laughs.

Jon Sanders is a highly regarded musician and composer specialising in tenor ukulele, bouzouki and guitar.

Dave Alley has a reputation as a fine songwriter with a melodic, percussive guitar style both on standard and slide guitars.

Dave Khan is a musical tour de force with one foot firmly planted in American folk music traditions. He effortlessly leaps between mandolin, guitar, violin and banjo as well as singing up a storm.

These three heavyweights of the New Zealand acoustic music scene, each exceptional solo performers in their own right, were the highlight of the 2011 Auckland Festival, their energy, enthusiasm and musicianship bringing the audience to its feet.

Details: 10am till 9pm. Bring a chair and picnic. Tickets $25 from Erika 543 4731 Sheryl 552 5906, Paul 552 0051.